Naperville Mayor George Pradel lauded the value the city brings to its residents and noted positive economic indicators for the city in his annual State of the City address Monday.
Pradel said getting taxpayers “the most bang for their buck” is important to the city, especially in tougher economic times. But the mayor said he is hopeful for the future at the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted event at Tellabs, and said Naperville as it is today was not accidental.
“Our successes and prosperity is the result of a long history of councils, community leaders and involved and caring citizens like all of you, whose vision for the future has become our reality,” he said.
Pradel turned the podium over to City Manager Doug Krieger, who cited several positive economic trends in the city. Among those was an estimated $2.6 billion in estimated sales in the city, amounting to $26 million in revenue the city will collect in sales tax in 2011.
“While that may seem like a sliver, you people buy a lot of stuff,” Krieger said, adding sales tax proceeds are the biggest revenue source for the city. He said the city has seen significant improvement in sales in the city, which he said is a sign the economy is improving.
Krieger also noted Naperville’s has maintained a perfect bond rating with Standard and Poor as well as Moody’s, and kept property taxes low in comparison with other area municipalities.
Pradel applauded several businesses for deciding to call Naperville home as well, citing a planned Dick’s Sporting Goods, a Cooper’s Hawk Winery and a new Walgreens coming to the city.
Councilman and mayoral candidate Kenn Miller said he would have liked to hear more about the mayor’s plan for improving revenue and solving budget woes.
“One of the things we need to do is build confidence that the city understands the issues,” Miller said.
Mayoral candidate and councilman Doug Krause noted Pradel’s highlights of businesses coming and staying in the city.
“The main thing is trying to attract businesses here,” he said, adding that creating jobs in the area trickles down to all residents of the city.
The mayor also took time to highlight the city’s Smart Grid Initiative, and stressed residents will have options when the 57,000 new meters are installed citywide.
“It’s all about choice,” Pradel said, adding that the project is expected to net a 300 percent return on the $11 million investment by the city over the next 15 years. Pradel said the minimum estimate is $34 million in savings for the electric utility over that period.
To close his 16th State of the City address, Pradel said the Naperville community working together for a common good will help the city work through its challenges.
“Our road to recovery will not be smooth,” he said. “We will undoubtedly hit bumps and setbacks, but our core values will continue to sustain us through trying times.”
